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Association of antenatal depression with oxidative stress and impact on spontaneous preterm birth

Journal of Perinatology volume 39, pages 554–562 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To determine whether antenatal depression is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, and secondarily, whether the association between antenatal depression and spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) is mediated by these biomarkers.

Study design

The primary outcome included urine oxidative stress biomarkers 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and 8-isoprostane and plasma inflammatory biomarkers measured at 10, 18, and 26 weeks and averaged within individual. Linear and logistic regression models were used, adjusting for age, race, parity, and pre-pregnancy body mass index.

Results

Among 462 women, 8-isoprostane was higher among depressed women (geometric mean: 299.96 pg/mL vs. 237.01 pg/mL; p = 0.001). In multivariable analyses, antenatal depression was significantly associated with an increase in average 8-isoprostane (β: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.05–0.44; p = 0.01). The association of antenatal depression with SPTB was partially mediated by 8-isoprostane. Antenatal depression was not associated with 8-OHdG or inflammatory biomarkers.

Conclusions

Antenatal depression was associated with higher oxidative stress across pregnancy, namely 8-isoprostane, and may impact SPTB via oxidative stress.

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Author contribution

KKV, TFM, and KKF conceptualized and designed this study. KKV, DEC, and KKF conducted all analyses. JDM, TFM, and DEC assisted with data interpretation. KKV and KKF wrote the manuscript.

Funding

This study was funded by the following grant from the National Institutes of Health (R01ES018872 NIH/NIEHS). Funding for Ferguson KK was provided by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Kartik K. Venkatesh

  2. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    John D. Meeker

  3. Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    David E. Cantonwine & Thomas F. McElrath

  4. Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    Kelly K. Ferguson

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  1. Kartik K. Venkatesh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kartik K. Venkatesh.

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Conflict of interest

KKV has served on an advisory board for Sage Pharmaceuticals. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Venkatesh, K.K., Meeker, J.D., Cantonwine, D.E. et al. Association of antenatal depression with oxidative stress and impact on spontaneous preterm birth. J Perinatol 39, 554–562 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-019-0317-x

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